Automatic stabilizer



Nov. 19, 1946. G. GRIMMINGER 2,411,156

AUTOMATIC STABILIZER Filed March 26,1945

FIG. 1

44 as 35 I2 1 N V EN TOR.. GEORGE GRIMMINGER 11118 ATTORNEY PatentedNov. 19, 1946 uuirs s'r ZAlLiSt 2 Claims.

Towed bodies of the type mentioned are used in antisubmarine warfare,but, in principle, the invention is not limited to such use. When soused, however, the body, which may hereafter be termed a torpedo, isproperly towed by means of a cable secured to the towing vessel, and isintended to be positioned astern of the towing vessel, and at depthswhich will vary with circumstances.

Proper depth can be reached without great difficulty, by adjusting thelength of the towing cable and the angle of the depressing planes ofthetorpedo to provide adequate negative lift, or depressing force.

The problem of lateral stability, and thus also the maintenance ofdepth, is much more dimcult. Under tow, an antisubmarine torpedo of thenature described soon begins to swing on the towing cable out of itsproper vertical relation with the towing ship. The action isprogressive, and it is not uncommon, if normal speed is maintained, forthe torpedo to rise, outwardly, until it breaks the surface of thewater.

The usefulness of devices of this kind, of course, depends on theirbeing towed at considerable depth. Numerous attempts have been made toprevent the erratic behavior mentioned, but none has been entirelysuccessful The principal obj ect of this invention is to provide meansfor maintaining the lateral and directional stability of a torpedo orsimilar body, said means comprising a simple pendulum and linkingmechanism between the same and the rudder.

Other objects will appear from a reading of the following specificationand claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section midwaythrough the shell of a torpedo adapted for towing, only the afterportion of the torpedo being shown, and Figure 2 is a section taken online 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, It represents the shell of a torpedo, theforward portion of which may be assumed to be of normal streamlinedform, and to be provided with a wing member of usual construction, andmeans for securing a towing cable.

At the stern of the torpedo are arranged horizontal fins or stabilizersH and I2, and. vertical fins l3 and I4, and aft of fin M is a verticalrudder l5. A bracket l5, mounted on the top amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) of fin 54, receives the top of the rudder post ll. Below, therudder post passes through a bearing journal E6, and into the torpedo.The lowerend of the post has secured thereto an arm or tiller is whichextends forwardly, and in which is arranged a verticall depending crankpin 20. A washer i9 is shown on the post ll between the journal it andthe arm I!) for promoting free movement therebetween.

Hung from the top of the body it, as by screws 2i and 22, is a bracket23 provided with two longitudinally spaced members 24 and 25. Thesemembers have aligned holes formed therein to receive a clevis pin orpintle 26.

Suspended for free oscillationon the pintle 26 is pendulum whichcomprises a bar 21 and a weight or bob 23. As shown, the bar is providedwith an enlargement 29, serving as a stop, and securing means 30 inthenature of a nut. The

bob 28 has a vertical hole formed therein, and

is adapted to be slipped over the bar 21, and up against the stop 29,whereupon the parts are secured together by tightening the nut 30.

It will be seen that the pendulum thus is adapted to swing transverselyof the central vertical longitudinal plane of the torpedo.

Stops 3i and 32 are arranged in the lower portion of the body in thepath of the lower end of the bar 21, and these stops limit theoscillation of the pendulum.

A lever 34 extends from the pendulum bar 21 to the depending pin 28 ofarm I9. It is bifurcated at its forward end, thereby forming the twofingers 35 and 36 spaced apart slightl wider than the diameter of bar21. The lever is similarly forked at its after end, for cooperation withthe pin 20.

Somewhat aft of the pendulum is arranged a supporting member 38. This isshown as an angle bar, though it may be of any desired construction. Thesupport is secured to the sides of the shell It in any convenientmanner, as by welding.

A bolt 39, or similar member, is provided to serve as a fulcrum for thelever 34; and the lever, where it passes support 38, has a Verticalopening formed therein to receive the bolt 39. Preferably, reinforcingbosses, as 40 and M, strengthen the lever at this point; and a fillerblock 42 is secured in the angle of member 38. To assemble the structureshown, the fulcrum member 39 is passed downwardly through a washer 44,and through the boss to, the lever 34, boss 4|, washer 35, support 38,and filler block 42. It is then secured by a nut 43. Washers M and 45assist in maintaining freedom of movement about the fulcrum.

It will be seen that a movement of the pendulum, to starboard forexample, will produce a like movement of the forward end of lever 34,the exact amount, relative to the movement of the pendulum bob,depending upon the point at which contact is made between the lever andbar 27. The lever pivots on fulcrum 39, and its after end thus moves toport, producing, through its cooperation with pin 29, a like movement ofarm l9 and a rudder movement to starboard,

In actual operation, of course, it is not intended that the pendulummove; rather, it is provided for the purpose of maintaining itself intrue vertical relation. But any lateral movement of the torpedo bodywill produce a relative change in pendulum position which will result ina rudder movement opposing the lateral movement of the torpedo. Thus,should the torpedo swing to port, the pendulum will move efiectively orrelatively to starboard, and the other parts will react as explained inthe preceding paragraph to bring the torpedo back to proper course.

'The above description is in specific terms. It is not intended,however, to restrict the invention to the exact structure shown anddescribed; but for the true limitations of the invention, referenceshould be had to the appended claims.

This invention may be manufactured and/or used by or for the Governmentof the United States of America without the payment to me of any royaltythereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. In a towed underwater body, means automatically maintaining lateraland directional stability comprisin a pendulum including a supportingbar and a bob, a bracket in the top of the body for supporting thependulum for swinging movement transversely of the central verticallongitudinal plane of the body, a vertical rudder having a postextending into the,body aft of the pendulum, said post supporting saidrudder for swinging movement into and out of the said central verticallongitudinal plane of the body, a tiller fixed to and extendingforwardly of said post, said tiller provided at its forward end portionwith a vertical crank pin, a bar fixed transversely within said bodyintermediate the pendulum and the tiller and provided with a verticalpivot, and a lever havin forked forward and after ends respectivelystraddling said supporting bar and said crank pin, said lever beingmounted for swinging movement about said vertical pivot, said bob beingof a mass sufiicient to control the rudder without the aid of any powersource, said pendulum upon alignment with said central verticallongitudinal plane so disposing said lever as to align said rudder withsaid longitudinal plane, and said pendulum upon transverse swingingmovement in either direction imparting movement to said lever to swingsaid rudder in a corresponding direction.

2. In a towed underwater body, the means recited in the preceding claim,said body being of conventional streamline form having a transverselycurved inside surface, and transversely spaced abutments fixed withinsaid body in the path of travel of said pendulum to limit movement ofsaid pendulum in either direction from said central verticallongitudinal plane so as to prevent denting or wedging engagement of thependulum bob with the transversely curved inside surfac of said body.

GEORGE GRINHVEENGER.

